Vodacom is launching a global data service platform (GDSP) to help companies deploy and manage large, wireless machine to machine (M2M) projects. The new platform will be supported by an expert local team backed by Vodafone's global M2M business unit.

Vodacom South Africa's 4G users can now enjoy voice calls and text messaging (SMS) along with their 4G service. To provide this service continuity, the operator has selected Nokia Siemens Networks' Liquid Core to enable circuit switched fall-back (CSFB) functionality in its LTE network. This functionality allows 4G users to make and receive voice calls using either the GSM or 3G network while retaining the benefit of ultra-fast data services via LTE.

Privately-owned Xpanse Investments has bought a 12% stake in technology firm Khauleza IT Solutions‚ it said on Friday (23 November). The companies did not disclose the value of the stake. Khauleza is partly owned by JSE-listed Mustek (MST)

Information technology services company ConvergeNet made an operating loss of R7.1m in the year ended August compared to an operating profit of R27.3m for the corresponding period a year ago‚ due to an increase in operating expenses‚ the company said in a SENS announcement on Friday (23 November).

The career and work opportunities NGO, Career Planet has partnered the Chief Information Officers Forum to help develop the ICT industries and aid socio-economic development in South Africa, with the aim of giving IT graduates real work experience.

In its ongoing quest to improve customer service‚ Telkom on Thursday, 22 November, unveiled a free mobile application to enable its clients to‚ among other things‚ log a technical fault related to their telephone lines and internet connection.

We live in a time in which technology can't be ignored, to the point that you're probably making use of it and aren't even aware of the fact. It has made our lives easier, providing solutions for personal and business purposes and while there is a plethora of technologies moving and shaking the industry, one such technology that is growing at a rapid pace is wi-fi.

Following two ticket queuing disasters for the South African Lady Gaga and Red Hot Chili Peppers concerts, it seems things are running smoothly for Metallica, with Computicket losing out to Big Concerts' own online ticketing system.

Ricoh SA has improved customer service by rolling out Windows-based mobile devices to all of its 120 field engineers. The devices give engineers and Ricoh SA's service centre greater control, flexibility and improved response capabilities as they are integrated with the call centre, service despatch controllers, and the Siebel-based back-end system.

PartServe Channel Support has been appointed as the locally authorised service centre for IBM in South Africa and carries out all repairs to IBM equipment, including Lenovo products, regardless of whether they are in or out of warranty.

The cloud - the technology which, in simple terms, allows users to employ and access various applications, programmes and files over the Internet from myriad devices - is changing the eco-system of the entire IT channel.

Telkom advised on Wednesday (14 November) that its headline earnings per share from continuing operations for the six months ended September 2012 are expected to be between 78% and 83% lower than the comparative period.

Companies that are failing to see their expected return on investment from virtualisation may be experiencing 'virtualisation stall', according to Warren Olivier of virtual infrastructure management and data protection company Veeam.

Datacentrix, a provider of high performing and secure ICT solutions, has officially introduced its cloud computing offering, aimed at assisting enterprise-level customers in meeting their off-premise outsourcing needs.

If anything is about to transform the way marketing works, it's that four-letter word: data. Technological advancements that have made it possible for any brand and business to have authentic, meaningful relationships with consumers makes data all the more powerful and relevant.

Once a year the 'certifiable' meet just off Google's campus in Mountain View, San Francisco and share new developments with like-minded visionaries with a passion for the user journey and website optimisation through Google Analytics.

Re-engineering or changing an IT system can prove to be a challenge within a complex environment, particularly for manufacturers who may require a system able to take hundreds if not thousands of variables into account. In addition, the dearth of IT professionals with an understanding of these unique operations present an even greater difficulty.

There's good news and bad news for citizens frustrated by their interactions with government call centres: major change is happening, but it will take time. Government-run contact centres get a lot of bad publicity. Some of it is deserved, but some of the bad press is purely because bad news sells.